Removable dowel connector and system and method of installing and removing the same

Abstract

A pre-fabricated pavement slab installation and replacement system is provided. The system includes a connector having an axial opening therethrough and engagement surface within the opening. The system further includes a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein a portion of the connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion of the connector is exposed. The adjacent pavement slab has an interconnection slot, that can cover the remaining portion of the exposed connector. The system further provides that under the condition that the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab are cut apart, the connector is cut into a first half and a second half, wherein the first half of the connector contains the first engagement component and the second half of the connector contains the second engagement component. The first half of the connector can be subsequently removed by engaging the engagement surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of removing and replacing a pavement slab, the method comprising:
 cutting between a pavement slab and an adjacent pavement slab, wherein the cutting cuts a hollow connector into first and second parts positioned in the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab, respectively; 
 vertically removing the adjacent pavement slab from next to the pavement slab to expose the first part of the hollow connector in the pavement slab; 
 removing the first part of the hollow connector from the pavement slab; 
 installing a full-size connector in the place of the first part of the hollow connector that was removed from the pavement slab; removing the second part of the connector from the adjacent pavement slab; 
 cleaning out the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab; and 
 replacing the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab by vertically lowering the adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab until the interconnection slot in the adjacent pavement slab covers the full-size connector in the pavement slab. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removing the first part of the connector from the pavement slab further comprises:
 inserting an engagement mechanism into an opening in the first part of the connector; 
 operating the engagement mechanism to remove the first part of the connector from the pavement slab without damaging the pavement slab. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the installing a full-size connector in the place of the part of the connector in the pavement slab further comprises:
 placing a binder material between the full-size connector and the pavement slab; and 
 inserting the full-size connector into a space created in the pavement slab by the removal of the first part of the connector from the pavement slab. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replacing the adjacent pavement slab further comprises:
 vertically lowering a new adjacent pavement slab next to the pavement slab until a interconnection slot in the new adjacent pavement slab covers the full-size connector in the pavement slab. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the operating the engagement mechanism further comprises:
 engaging an engagement component positioned in the central opening with the engagement mechanism. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the engaging an engagement component positioned in the central opening with the engagement mechanism further comprises:
 threading the engagement mechanism into corresponding threads of the engagement component on the first part of the connector such that the first part of the connector axially advances out of the pavement slab without damaging the pavement slab. 
 
     
     
       7. A system for removing a connector in pavement, the system comprising:
 a pavement slab; and 
 an adjacent pavement slab positioned next to the pavement slab; and 
 a hollow connector, wherein a portion of the hollow connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion is embedded in the adjacent pavement slab, 
 wherein, under the condition that a cut is made between the pavement slab and the adjacent pavement slab, the hollow connector is cut into a first part in the pavement slab and a second part in the adjacent pavement slab, and 
 wherein the adjacent pavement slab is configured to be vertically removed from next to the pavement slab, and 
 Wherein the first part is axially advanced out of the pavement slab without deforming the pavement slab, thus defining a space in the pavement slab that is a shape of the removed first part. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first part is adapted to be removed from the pavement slab without damaging the pavement slab and the second part is adapted to be removed from the adjacent pavement slab without damaging the adjacent pavement slab. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the adjacent pavement slab further comprises an interconnection slot that encompasses the second part of the connector. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the interconnection slot is tapered from front to back. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the interconnection slot is tapered from top to bottom. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein a binder material is inserted into the interconnection slot and around the connector to functionally bind the connector within the interconnection slot and thus functionally bind the connector to the adjacent pavement slab. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , wherein a spacer is positioned between a rear surface of the interconnection port and a binder material, and wherein the spacer facilitates the removal of the second part from the adjacent pavement slab by easing the removal of the binder material out of the interconnection slot. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 8 , wherein a new full-size connector is inserted and secured within the space, such that a portion of the full-size connector is embedded in the pavement slab and a remaining portion is exposed, and wherein the adjacent pavement slab is vertically re-lowered next to the pavement slab and the interconnection slot of the adjacent pavement slab covers the remaining portion of the new full-size connector. 
     
     
       15. A method of replacing a connector in pavement, the method comprising:
 cutting the pavement slab to a depth to cut a hollow connector in the pavement slab into first and second parts, the cutting the pavement slab defining first and second adjacent slabs; 
 removing the second adjacent slab having the second part contained therein from beside the first adjacent slab to define a void and thereby expose the first part of the hollow connector in the first adjacent slab; 
 removing the first part of the hollow connector from the first adjacent slab without otherwise damaging the first adjacent slab; 
 installing another connector in the first adjacent slab wherefrom the first part of the hollow connector was removed, the another connector extending from the first adjacent part into the void; and 
 replacing the second adjacent slab in the void next to the first adjacent slab. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the removing the first part of the connector from the first adjacent slab further comprises:
 inserting an engagement mechanism into an opening in the first part of the hollow connector; and 
 operating the engagement mechanism to remove the first part of the hollow connector from the first adjacent slab without damaging the first adjacent slab. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the replacing the second adjacent slab in the void next to the first adjacent slab further comprises:
 placing the second adjacent slab in structural communication with the another connector extending from the first adjacent slab; and 
 fixedly engaging the second adjacent slab with the another connector.